On Wednesday night, Takeshi Ishii made history for Japanese boxing by knocking out Puerto Rican opponent Wilfredo Mendez in the very first round to claim the WBA minimumweight world title.
This victory officially set a new record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight by a Japanese male boxer, surpassing the previous mark held by superstar Naoya Inoue.
The fight was brief and explosive as Ishii immediately applied relentless pressure on defending champion Mendez. The power and precision of the home fighter's punches quickly overwhelmed Mendez, who could not withstand the assault and suffered a knockout loss late in the first round.
With this resounding victory, Takeshi Ishii not only captured the prestigious WBA belt but also etched his name into Japanese boxing history with the fastest knockout in a world title bout, officially surpassing the record previously set by his compatriot Naoya Inoue.
